Saturday, January 27, 2007

Dragonwyck (1946) ***1/2 (update)

Anya Seton's novel was first published in Ladies Home Journal between Aug and Decorations 1943. According to a 6 Jun 1944 Hollywood Reporter news item, Gregory Peck was first considered for the "co-star role" of this picture, and a modern source reveals that studio production chief Darryl F. Zanuck intended to feature Peck as "Nicholas" and John Hodiak as "Dr. Jeff Turner."

Numerous pre-release sources credit Ernst Lubitsch as the producer of the film. According to a modern source, Lubitsch withdrew from the project due to his poor health and conflicts with director and screenwriter Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Dragonwyck marked Mankiewicz' first directorial effort.

I thought Dragonwyck was really good it’s a combination of Rebecca and The ghost and Mrs. miur -- actors all fine. Vincent Price and Jessica Tandy are always superb, also Walter Houston and Ann Reeves (Who always play everybody's mother) and off course GeneTierney